The Press., 1887-08-18
THE RAIN MAKER.

It was at Martinique, in the month of August, 1895. For six long weeks the impetuous south wind had blown across the sandy fields and rocky slopes, flaming them drier and drier with it's hot wings, while avertical and all embracing sun seemed perpetually on the point of re- kindling from without the extinct fires of the old volcano. " ~ Under an arbor in the Dominican con- vent, on the Isles des Moines, sat thegood Fathers Temple, Rosie, Bournot and Fraize, gazing sadly out toward their per ishing gardens, upon which depended their winter store of maize and beans, and murmuring against the saints who, de- spite their prayers, accorded them no sue cor. i -5aR Ea 52'53af1saG.E .s21tl @ s {s-t a2 'SThe very pumpkins have stopped growing" complained Pere Temple, "and the melons, IL fear, are past help, even should rain fall within an hour" .,E 1.sThere is not the faintest promise that 1t will rain within twenty four hours, D said Pere Rosie, turning his eyes up Co the binding blue vault upon which no shadow of cloud appeared. "It is very hard that the innocent must suffer thus with thesguilty. The good Lord not only sends his rain alike upon the just and the unjust, but -withholds it equally from the faithful servant and the impudent trans gressor. Who among us has failed to fast and pray, or to pay his dues of service, that our gardens should perish like those of the wickedp"
 "It is true," sighed Father Bournot. s'The age of miracles seems indeed past. The saints no longer show forth the power and glory of God by those signal zfavors with which they were wont to distinguish the true believer from the inf1del blas- phemer." f-. ..
 ''We have taken 1t upon ourselves to fight in the forefront of the battle against heathendom," said Father Temple, pious- ly, ssand we must, not complain if God proves us by trials more severe than those laid upon us in our own land; rather should we be melted thereby to the greater fervor and vigilance, that for our sakes the island may be delivered from total de- struction."
 While the good fathers talked thus among themselves Saat, the little negro servant and protege of Father Fraize, rigid1y erect behind his master, listened attentively. Fe FA*s# { F#
 ~ At the close of Father Temples pious admonition Saat gravely advanced, and, placing himself with respectful obeisance in front of the monks, began to speak with great earnestness.
 Now Saat spoke in a tongue unknown to any present save his master, Father Fraize, who had lived for many years as missionary in the kingdom of Juda, in Guinea, whence indeed he had but re- gently returned, bringing Saat with him. The other monks looked with surprise at the negrillon, who, ordinarily extremely well behaved, had never before intruded upon their conversation in this strange fashion. Father Fraize, however, smiled indulgently upon his protege, and, turn fin ncpif fa hiS shrQfhrQTa GQias f-
 ''Saat is really making good progress in the French tongue. He has understood your complaints of the drought, and he offers with your permission to bring rain upon your gardens at once" .. ...
 'The little paganv'' exclaimed Father Temple. t'Does he imagine we will per-. init his heather sorceries hereS" ..-r ss 'sYou must remember that he does not yet fully understand the difference be- | tween the ceremonies of our religion and the superstitious rites of his own people, " returned the Pere Fraize, apologetically. "You know that in his country there are professional rainmakers"- 7 zgt fttYes. yes," interrupted Saat, this time in his difficult and imperfect French, which he found far too slow for important communications, "Saat's grandfather big rainmaker-very much strong. Saat, too, make rain come when you want him." .'
 He fixed his great eyes, black and slin- inga two balls of polished jet, upon his master, with an expression eager and earnest, which bespoke the fullest conf dence in his ability to perform what he promised.
 E ,"I fear you have 8 difficult subject there, Brother. Fraize," said the Pere Temple ''The boy rlainly believes him. self sorcerer by birthright, and such is the passion for the supernatural In the E human mind that 1t is doubtful whether the salvation of his own soul would be 8 prize sufficiently great to induce him to relinquish his wicked entertainments.
 stBut it is very remarkable, the power some of these people really seem to pos sess," said Father Bournot, diverted from his grievance against the saints by the remembrance of miracles by no means saintly. 'Iremember when was preach ing a mission at Laomentin, two years ago, there was negro conjurer there who predicted the death of woman within four days, and in effect she did die on the fourth day" 'H %@ ss1 E}@f.. 7s
 "Died of fright, no doubt" returned Father Temple. "A weak intellect and 0 strong imagination might very well bring about the fulfllment of such a predic- tion" '5-s
 s'No fmagination-not even the strong est-however, could have detained one of the ships of M. le Comte de Gennes in the harbor for six weeks" replied Father Bournot. t-G s. r EFTutl tut!syou are too cfedulous, my brother" said Father Temple. ''I have never believed in that miraculous deten- tion, notwithstanding the grave assevera- | tions of the Pere Labat."
 "But it is true," affirmed Pere Rosie.
 sI myself saw the ship lying there as if l nailed fast, and, moreover, the hearts and ivers of the sailors who died under the curse of the black witch were found as empty as balloons "t '$ HI i ..2-r.e-
 ''So they were," confirmed Father Bournot, land the same black witch could, without touching them, eat out the sheartseof melons securely locked away in the pantry, leaving the skins unbroken. /"
 Father Temple responded only by a deris- i've laugh, but Father Fraize, who was no great talker, although he too must have Y seen some wonderful things, interposed. x E sNSuppose, then, 'a he Baid, sinsteadlo of so -much nuitless discussion, which, after all, decides nothing, you let Saat make trial of his powers" @z... At the mention of his name Saat, who E seemed to have relinquished hope of his offer being accepted, looked up with re- newed eagernesS. .1,,-s.
 ''No, no, ;" quickly objected Father Tenn pie, 'it would be sacrilege to permit such heathenish rites within our walls. n 'sI am very doubtful whether he could succeed, v remarked Father Rosie, ''fo1
 his helpers being undoubtedly evil spirits, could haveno power to enter within con
 secrated limits" d. ,,.;ss,, t
 "You forget that evil spirits may entel